An Italian journey: FAP Ceramiche

Imagine an escape to Italy. A journey from Napoli up the coast to the rolling landscape of Tuscany. The warmth of the sun is heating the earth, the golden light is bringing out the romance of nature, and the fragrance of flowers and lemon trees is drifting.

Then imagine an interior design that could transport you there; an atmosphere that taps into the sensations, colours and craft traditions of Italy. This scene can be truly set with FAP Ceramiche’s Summer collection of wall tiles and porcelain stoneware tiles.

Conducive to warmth and character, tiles capture the charm of Italian hospitality from cosy bistros, to picturesque terraces. Decorative yet functional, they can cover large spaces, or practically protect interior elements such as shelves or steps. The brand’s tiles span a range of sizes from a 30.5 x 91.5cm wall tile, to the largest floor tile of 120 x 120cm.

FAP Ceramiche’s tiles represent both the past and future of Italian decor by combining artisanal techniques with modern technical design. While nodding to the history of Italian craftsmanship, the tiles have the versatile, resistant and hygienic properties of a high-quality modern material.

There’s a sensual weightiness to the craft traditions of Italy. From the mosaic details of the architectural facades, to the chalky stone sculptures, and the textured surfaces of terracotta.

The full-bodied material effect of FAP Ceramiche’s porcelain stoneware tiles echo this weightiness by reproducing the patterns and imperfections of hand-crafted Italian terracotta. Tile surfaces feature natural mineral residues and speckles that refract the light, creating a nuanced effect achieved through craftsmanship and technical expertise.

The burnt orange terracotta colour is evocative of the Mediterranean landscape, and Terracotta is one of the colours found in the Summer collection. It is joined by the lighter, more neutral, yet equally warm, Brezza, for a softer, more subtle tone.

Nature is present across the whole of the Summer colour palette. The care-free, creamy Sabbia, brings a touch of sunshine. Sale adds a note of Sicilian lemons. The cool, silvery Mare blue nods to the ocean, and dusty Oliva green to the olive groves.

As well as the spectacular seascapes and landscapes, when we think of Italian nature, we often imagine flowers in bloom; hanging baskets overflowing with buds, bursts of wildflowers at the roadside; or pruned palace grounds such as the Boboli Gardens of Florence.

The Summer collection brings these blooms into interiors. The pictorial Magnolia Vento is a romantic ceramic decoration in which leaves and flowers spring to life with shimmering details on a satin-finish background. While the Flower decorative motif features a shower of petals with glistening edges.

The light in Italy has a beautiful way of amplifying colours; catching textural details and enhancing hues. Through in-depth research into raw materials, FAP Ceramiche has achieved this unique effect by combining glossy 3D effects on matte backgrounds.

Light bounces off the meandering lines of the Track detail which forms an attractive glossy relief across the wall. The combination of gloss and matte can also be seen on the Mosaics of the collection; the L-shape and square tesserae of the Elle; and vibrant little brushstrokes of the Luce.

Bringing together surface texture, relief work and materiality, these tiles elevate flat walls into dimensional atmospheres. It is the grasp of the third dimension that is a hallmark of FAP. It is a quality that invites touch, creating a bond between inhabitant and interior.

When tiles from across the collection are combined, the full sensory experience of Italy can be unlocked. And when designers pair the depth of the earthy floor tiles, with playful iridescent decorative moments – it is then that our minds can be transported away.

© Architonic